badboy1984 Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 I personally think I'm not a great bass player when it come to improvising a bassline etc. I play in a cover band and I can pretty much every song in our band exactly the same as the record for the bass part. So transcribing and learning bassline is not a problem for me. The problem I'm getting is improvising. I know scales, notes on the fretboard but always avoid using notes that I'm not comfortable of using when jaming or making a bassline. Always gone back of using the same old pattern or notes. Any advice you guys can give me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 You could try practicing chord inversions. This is when different notes, apart from the root in a chord are the lowest sounding. For example Cmaj is CEG which is the root inversion. Starting on the third (E) is the first inversion (EGC). The chord is the same but starting on a different note gives it a different flavour. Here is a link to inversions : [url="http://www.scribd.com/doc/2087887/a-comprehensive-chord-tone-system-for-mastering-the-bass-jeff-berlin"]http://www.scribd.com/doc/2087887/a-comprehensive-chord-tone-system-for-mastering-the-bass-jeff-berlin[/url] Learning walking bass lines is a great way of opening up the fretboard and getting away form familiar patterns, even if you dont care too much for jazz. Below is a link to Dave Mark's series of lessons on WB. I think there are nine in all. Later in the series of lessons, he deals with inversions and gives some great exercises to get familiar with them. Learning walking bass will be beneficial when playing all types of music. [url="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dave+marks+walking+bass"]http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dave+marks+walking+bass[/url] Finally, here is yet another link which contain lessons about connecting chord tones. [url="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=scott+devine+connecting+chord+tones"]http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=scott+devine+connecting+chord+tones[/url] Sorry for the lack of personal input, but these lessons explain things a lot better than I ever could. Hope you get as much benefit from them as I did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badboy1984 Posted April 30, 2014 Author Share Posted April 30, 2014 That definite help, I will have a go at those lessons. Improvising stuff is always fun but is my weak point, these lessons will help me. Cheers for the links Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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